[TR] Bearpaw Mountain and Church Mountain - Uh, whatever 08/19/2023

[geosean]

Trip: Bearpaw Mountain and Church Mountain - Uh, whatever

Trip Date: 08/19/2023

Trip Report:

Looking for an easier day after some hard trips and also breaking in a new partner I settled on the very much discussed but seldom climbed Bearpaw Mountain, with a side of Church on the way out.

We quickly hiked up the Church Mountain trail then at the meadow turned up slope and went cross-country crossing over several ridges towards Bearpaw Mountain. The final scramble of Bearpaw is a couple moves of easy class 3 along the ridge, there is a trail from the saddle above Church Lake.

The entire area was devoid of humans, very pretty, and lots of fun cross-country rambling, generally very easy. We discovered a surprising and very distinct outcrop of limestone that is very interesting and just rock is not common in the North Cascades. 

After Bearpaw we decided to take the easiest line and dropped to Whistler Lake, passing several lakes and wandering around the meadows at around 5600 ft. From kidney lakes we ascended to the notch on East Ridge of church mountain and joined the standard scramble route. I haven't done this in many years and summer conditions and it was a bit more complicated than I remembered but still not more than class 3. 

After the summit we headed down the standard route, over the church lookout, and down the trail to the car. The whole trip took 9 hours over about 13 mi and 6, 000'. 

It was a great day out in our mountainous backyard (for Bellinghamsters) in an area that I've talked about going to for years but never gotten around to doing. More of a cross-country high route days and actual peaks but very enjoyable!

I did this TR on my phone and can't figure out how to put spaces between the photos, it's not actually one vertical panorama. Note: this whole report took me about 10 minutes, so let's see your reports!

Gear Notes:
Trail shoes. Poles.

Approach Notes:
Church Mountain trail. Made it to the trailhead in a Pontiac Sunfire, the creek crossing required some driving skill.

[kmfoerster]

Wait what's this breaking in new partners business?! Did the Lake Serene trail count?

Looks like some nice country. And your right, no excuse not to submit TR's!

[geosean]

1 hour ago, kmfoerster said:

Wait what's this breaking in new partners business?! Did the Lake Serene trail count?

Haha, you came with credentials!

[olyclimber]

Man, its been since college when i was up on Church mountain!   I seem to remember some old outhouse or something on the way up. 

[olyclimber]

Ah yes...for the old lookout:

[JasonG]

On 8/24/2023 at 7:43 PM, geosean said:

Haha, you came with credentials!

That's right, the JGAP seal of approval!  Like a Michelin star, it means .....uhhhhh, something.